Pakistan Vows Swift Retaliation After Houthi Attack Saudi Tankers

The Government of Pakistan vowed swift retaliation against any hostile acts targeting its flagged vessels or maritime interests in the Red Sea following attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabian oil tankers. The Houthis claimed to have targeted two vessels in a military operation and announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia in the Bab al-Mandeb strait; a Saudi news agency confirmed one vessel was ablaze.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attacks during a July 24, 2026, telephone conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The two leaders agreed to coordinate efforts to ensure the uninterrupted flow of maritime commerce through the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz. This diplomatic response follows a 2025 Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement between the two nations.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi stated on July 23 that any attack on Pakistani vessels would be treated as a direct assault on the state and a grave threat to national security. While Andrabi called for diplomatic restraint, he reiterated that Pakistan would act in the exercise of self-defence to protect its commercial shipping and honor its mutual defence commitments to Saudi Arabia.